Pimalai Resort & Spa

Location is just stunning this is the most beautiful hotel with a relaxed super efficient atmosphere. This was our second visit another 10 days in paradise. We have travelled the world over many years and have never found anything so unique as the Pimalai. A long travel from the Uk but well worth it. We loved our hillside pool villa so much on our first visit we requested the same villa for this years visit one of few hotels where you can request a specific villa and you get it if available when you book. The staff at this resort are super efficient always at hand when needed. Extremely high standard throughout the hotel from rooms to food to gardens are all top notch. Whilst in the villas all you can hear is the birds and the singing of the cicadas early evening so relaxing.stunning sights ofthe sea eagles circling overhead at breakfast unique feature of hotel. We cannot fault this resort in anyway so much so we booked our 3rd visit for the same time next year within 2 days of returning home to the uk. but this time requesting a different villa recommended to us by reception during our stay this year. If you are a multi generation family would recommend looking at the 3 bedroom beach villa which is totally stunning .Thankyou Pimalai for another amazing holiday see you January 2027 . warm regards Mel and Annette Potter

Ok , instead of writing another review telling u this is an amazing resort , which clearly given its our 8th year of returning this is a given , I will instead write some facts to help u choose this resort compared to others we have stayed in on this island and around 100 + other hotels in Thailand . Beach - one of the best beaches in Thailand , pristine golden sands , very clean no litter around , not at all crowed with people even in busy season . Sea is calm , clear and shallow , no signs of jelly fish this year in comparison to a lot of other beaches visited this year . Yes sea lice , but these do u no harm just weird sensation. The beach stretches a fair way , with some lovely beach bars , massage parlours along the way . Beach sunbeds good with enough shade if needed , lots of activities available, paddle board , canoes , sailing Pool areas - great infinitely pools with great views of the ocean, lots of quality sunbeds with clean covers put onto them every day for extra comfort. No sign of sunbed hoggers and even at busy times always a bed available. Staff always at hand delivering water / fresh fruit and service if required. Sunset absolutely stunning from this resort a good happy hour for cocktails. Rooms - regular rooms , good size with king size bed and pillow menu available, bed is comfortable. Views from rooms can vary , well insulated so no nose from other rooms . Air con very good and WiFi . Obviously pool villas are out of this world but as expected for pricing . Not a massive issue with mosquitos in this resort compared to some others but it is Thailand and mosquitos are a thing ! Monkeys yes I have come across them in high rooms maybe pool villas , but they cause no harm , staff do keep them under control Important to note I love monkeys , these resort does not have enough in my opinion 🙈 This hotel is now in its 23rd year and does make strong efforts to maintain rooms every year we see improvements. Staff all incredible, if u are lucky enough to get captain Massana who has been here forever and clearly takes great pride in his job , weather permitting the boat ride to and from the hotel is a real treat . Food - Breakfast is always a good standard with a good selection and if there is something u want that’s not out just ask , mango is a favourite for me and I sometimes not on show due to availability but just ask ! All restaurants are of high standard ok price is higher than local especially alcohol, but u pay for quality and less risk of any tummy bugs . There is a good 7/11 just a short walk into village along the beach , the local village has enough to keep u busy outside the hotel plenty of good restaurants and shops . It’s not a big party scene but I guess u do t book this resort for that . Laundry service is offered at hotel but lots of local laundry places available for a couple of pounds ( just run the risk of maybe missing couple of pants along the way ) Yes this hotel is a big hotel and yes it is child friendly, but not masses of children here . And it never feels crowded, how they do it I don’t know but this year hotel maximum occupancy and still felt uncrowded. If u want a quieter feel go to hilltop pool . After talking with many staff here over the years it’s very clear to see they love being here with comments of they feel like family and not just staff , this shows through their constant smiles and willingness to look after guests at all times . Always a worry that this hotel will drop in standards as the years go by , I can confirm this definitely is not the case . Gym - could it be upgraded with new machines yes , but u have everything u need to work out on holiday , and I have to say I haven’t been yet this year ! I can confirm I have stayed at layanna resort and even though an adults only hotel i promise Pimalai is way ahead in every department. We are now Gold members of pimalai and we do get treated like vips , but honestly we always have . We love all the staff and so lovely to be personally welcomed back by all Looking for the best in Thailand pls take it from me look no further Thanks once again Cheryl and Jon Briscoe

The travel agent described this hotel as sublime , she was completely correct. From the moment we arrived at the pier on the mainland for the speedboat transfer we were treated with respect, courtesy and friendliness. When we arrived at the hotel, the service by the hotel meet and greet team were exemplary. After being guided through the check in process which included lovely refreshing towels and lemon grass water chilled, a young lady escorted us to our room and explained everything to us ie the mini bar complimentary milk, tea, coffee and water. The app was also explained which I have to say is great and so easy to use when paired to your room and I am not at all techie. We ordered memory foam pillows via the app and they arrived straight away and this was the start of the extremely high level of service and attention to detail we received throughout our stay. Making restaurant reservations via the app is easy and efficient. We had a completely lazy and relaxing stay and didn’t do a lot apart from walk down the beach to the village and up the beach to the same, same but different restaurant for drinks. We ate in the hotel and the food in all three restaurants is excellent. For a hotel of this standard I didn’t think it was at all expensive. The fish bbq night at the rakatay was brilliant as was the surf and turf buffet. The rice and spice restaurant, the Thai food was amazing and you can say the level of spiciness you would like. The beef massaman curry was beautiful. Dear Brice Borin your staff are a complete credit to the resort. Everyone has a part to play and they all provide a very high level of service, respect, politeness and attention to detail. I would like to mention Meen in the rice and spice restaurant so helpful explaining the dishes on the menu with a smile and friendliness. Wlif in the Rakatay restaurant he is very respectful friendly and helpful. Mae who I think was managing happy hour and who worked in the rakatay she is a credit to your team and if you award customer feedback awards I would like to nominate her, she provided excellent customer service, is efficient and so competent. A mention also to the gardening team who keep the grounds looking natural. Also the porter who takes your cases on and off the boat. We hope to return next year. Thank you so much for making our holiday so special and for helping us make such special memories.

We stayed at Pimalai Koh Lanta as a family, and it was without question one of the most complete and memorable resort experiences we’ve had in Thailand. From the moment of arrival, the atmosphere is calm, refined and genuinely welcoming. Pimalai is beautifully set between jungle-covered hills and a stunning private beach, and despite the size of the property, it never feels busy or impersonal. We stayed in a Hilltop One Bedroom Pool Villa with ocean view, which exceeded all expectations. The villa was spacious, private and beautifully designed, with a large infinity pool and breathtaking views over the bay. The layout worked perfectly for a family, offering both comfort and privacy. Service throughout the resort is exceptional. Staff are warm, professional, attentive and communicate effortlessly in English. Everything runs smoothly, from buggy transport and restaurant reservations to in-room dining, all supported by a very well-functioning app – yet the experience always feels personal. Dining and breakfast are of very high quality, with multiple excellent restaurants and a breakfast experience that is both generous and refined. The beach is one of the most beautiful we’ve experienced in Thailand, with soft sand, clear water and a peaceful atmosphere. Pimalai is a luxury resort and priced accordingly, but the value is absolutely there. Nothing feels rushed, compromised or overlooked. A truly outstanding stay.

Our stay at Pimalai Koh Lanta was emotionally quite mixed. On the one hand, many things were truly wonderful: the location, the arrival experience, the natural surroundings — all of this is simply breathtaking. The property itself is embedded in stunning nature and the atmosphere is peaceful, private and special. We genuinely had a beautiful time here. However, for a resort of this price level and reputation, several aspects were unfortunately far from the standard one would expect. Most noticeable: Many areas are in clear need of renovation. The fitness studio is not presentable and absolutely not appropriate for a hotel of this category. Several features around the pools, such as the fountains, were not operating at all. The barriers in the children’s pool area are extremely unattractive and disturb the entire visual concept. At the beach, the back-row cabanas urgently need replacement — they are worn and no longer match the hotel’s luxury image. Breakfast and dining were fine, but overall not remarkable when compared with similar resorts in this segment. The only true culinary highlight was Spice & Rice, which was excellent and clearly stood out. Room cleaning was spotless and very well done, though often only in the late afternoon, which felt a bit inconvenient for a resort stay. The General Manager was present on property, but there was very little guest interaction, which felt like a missed opportunity in such a personal and high-end environment. A major disappointment was New Year’s Eve. While the food was outstanding, everything else felt extremely underwhelming. After dinner, it seemed as if the budget had been exhausted: the band was unfortunately very poor — off-key, unable to create any atmosphere, and there was no real countdown feeling at all. A good DJ would have cost less and created a far better celebration. We truly enjoyed our time, and Pimalai has enormous potential to become a shining star again. But at the moment, the gap between price, promise and actual delivery is too wide. Because of that, I personally find it difficult to give a clear recommendation — not because the place isn’t beautiful, but because the experience does not consistently meet the standard the hotel claims and charges for. With renewed investment and a different management approach, this resort could once again become exceptional.